Considering goats.... Input!!

[yankee'n'moxie]

Another question: We are looking into fencing and need to know what will keep the girls in best? Maybe something like this: http://www.tractorsupply.com/feedlot-panel-cattle-16-ft--3502077 ? OR electric? Some people have said netted electric wire, but I can't seem to find anything like that on TSC's website? Thoughts on other fencing options?

Thanks to all of you!!

 

[SheepGirl]

If you were to do a large area in feedlot panels, that would get really expensive. Even a smaller area, like 32'x32', would cost you $176, not including the posts. If you were to go with feedlot panels, that would be a permanent area (T-posts aren't easy to get in/out of the ground unless you have a T-post pounder and extractor), not a temporary/moveable one. If you want a permanent area, I would recommend field fencing--that's what we have (albeit we have sheep fenced in).

Temporary/electric netting - http://www.premier1supplies.com/fencing.php?species_id=2

 

[autumnprairie]

Another question: We are looking into fencing and need to know what will keep the girls in best? Maybe something like this: http://www.tractorsupply.com/feedlot-panel-cattle-16-ft--3502077 ? OR electric? Some people have said netted electric wire, but I can't seem to find anything like that on TSC's website? Thoughts on other fencing options?

Thanks to all of you!!

those panels will work fine and maybe eventually adding a hot wire to the top if need be.

here is a link to the electric net fence http://www.premier1supplies.com/fencing.php?species_id=2


I have 10 goats on 1/2 and acre two pens but I used to have 2 20x30 pens for holding and let them graze daily or every other day or so
I hope this helps

 

[yankee'n'moxie]

Thank you very much! Both of you! We'll see what we come up with. Right now we are just in the consideration/planning stages. I'll let you all know if I have more questions! LOL, and I am sure that I will!

 

[yankee'n'moxie]

So, it turns out the the Nubians that I was looking at are pretty expensive. What about Alpines? Good dairy breed? There is one on Craigslist...

 

[that's*satyrical]

Yup alpines are a good dairy breed too. How much milk were you looking to get? Just asking because you may want to consider Nigerian Dwarfs from milking lines. My 2 give a half gallon a day & you don't need to feed them as much as a standard size, you can use less expensive fencing & housing is simpler.

 

[that's*satyrical]

Also they are year round instead of seasonal breeders which makes it easier to have milk year round.

 

[yankee'n'moxie]

OK... I will look into that! Do they give a half gallon combined? Or a half gallon each? Just curious because we were planning on alternating when they were in milk so that we wouldn't ever be with out it. But a 1/4 gallon isn't going to cut it. We are a family of 4 that LOVES milk! We are going through apprx 2 gallons every three days, depending on what we eat.

 

[that's*satyrical]

They give a 1/2 gallon combined. One gives a little more than a quart & one a little less. BUT I only milk once a day so one goat if you milked twice a day should give you a half gallon or so if it is from dairy lines. You would need to pull & bottle feed the babies & sell them as bottle babies if you did it that way. Or plan it to always have 2 goats in milk at the same time & you can leave the babies on during the day, separate at night, & milk in the mornings. Then when they wean at about 2 months switch to twice a day milkings to keep the milk strong. Nigerians have not always been bred for dairy so you would definitely want to find one with some milk behind it. What area are you in I may be able to pull up some breeders for you?

 

[yankee'n'moxie]

I am in Maine... Probably not looking to spend more than $100 dollars a piece, and less would be wonderful!